■"fixed colour " — that is to say, the species did not vary, 

 ■showing some individuals white, some grey, bay, brown 

 or black. 



What was the original colour of the horse has been a 

 matter of discussion by many able writers ; and the fact 

 that the only wild horse now in existence — Prejvalsky's — 

 is bay seems to confirm the views of those authorities who 

 maintain that bay was the " original " colour of the 

 horse. This, however, is a matter into which we need 

 not enter, our interest lying in the colours of the horses 

 from which the modern Thoroughbred traces his descent. 

 Arab tradition maintains that the horse was created 

 Koummite, red mixed with black — that is to say, dark 

 brown. General Daumas,* who spent sixteen years 

 in Northern Africa in close contact with the Arab chiefs 

 and people, says it is beyond all question that these 

 colours are preferred to all others by the Arabs of the 

 Sahara, and he adds, " If I might be allowed to quote my 

 own personal experience, I should have no hesitation in 

 saying that, if there be any prejudice in the matter, I 

 share it with them," 



The variety of colour exhibited by our race-horses 

 would seem to be less in our own day than it was a 

 century or more ago. The first volume of the General 

 Stud Book, the early volumes of the Racing Calendar, 

 and Sharkey's Irish Racing Calendar contain mention 

 of very variously coloured winners of important races — 

 greys, bays, chestnuts, blacks, and horses of mixed 

 colours. 



It is easy to understand why the race-horses of an earlier 

 age showed greater variety of colour then do the race- 

 horses of modern times. The variety is explained by the 



* The Horses of the Sahara. 



